1940s
1948
Retired teacher Margaret Bakker spent her 90th birthday visiting the places where she grew up (Whittier and Fullerton) and was joined by three of her four children. She had not visited Southern California for many years and was happy to see the “Whittier College campus and buildings looked very good and well cared for. I like the direction the College is taking, following in my classmate, Martin Ortiz’s footsteps.” She still occasionally plays the violin and autoharp and sings at retirement centers with a group of retired players.
1949
Richard “Dick” Kent Mastain and Mary (Steele) Mastain, residents of Ashland, Ore. celebrated their 68th anniversary in August 2017. The couple were college sweethearts at Whittier. Dick earned a Ph.D. in education and Mary a master’s in education. The couple have four children, spend time with family and friends, prepare and enjoy meals, plant and manicure their gardens, and host weekly game nights.
1950s
1951
Retired Professor of Education Bruce Mitchell has published two books, California’s First Maritimers and Lost in the Shelikof: An Alaskan Family’s Struggle to Survive—co-authored with son, Jeff. He is also a noted researcher and author in areas of creativity, gifted education, and multicultural education.
Retired Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Manhattan Beach Jim Stecklein was inducted into the Downey High School Hall of Fame in May. He was honored for his passion for strengthening communities through shared recreational opportunities and dedication to service—he’s a life-long YMCA volunteer.
1953
After years of writing, Rolf Tvedt has finished his mystery novel and is looking for a publisher.
1960s
1960
Joseph A. Carotenuti shared some fond recollections: “I distinctly remember my first time (1956) listening to President Paul Smith advising parents that they could ‘sleep soundly’ while their child was attending Whittier College. A different era, a different world, but Whittier has always underscored that education was truly ‘sound’ whether for parents, students, teachers or alumni. In a world enflamed in turmoil, there is solace in knowing the Poets have maintained an integrity to truth through knowledge and well-spent lives in service to our world.”
1961
To learn more about the Class of 1961 Endowed Scholarship contact Marian (Voss) Goodson, G4gppdspm@aol.com
1962
Class Agent: Mrs. Janice M. (Letts) Gordon
Ellen Beans turned over the reins as coordinator of the Moraga Community Faire having founded it in 2007. Lawrence Canfield works as a portfolio manager for Main Street Capital Partners, Inc. Christopher Cross leads a rm that consults across the U.S. on issues related to Pre-K education. And, he’s beginning his second time as a Whittier College Trustee with classmates Jim Mitchell and Bob Zemsky. Diana (Bruce) Garrett and her husband own Julian Book House in downtown Julian, Calif. David G. Franzen retired after 35 years in the defense industry. He enjoys skiing, hiking, and climbing and is involved in two veteran organizations. Marion J. (Mathews) Kelsey has been working at an aerospace company in Huntington Beach for 35 years. Barbara (Billedeaux) Muirhead is retired and loves traveling and the outdoors. Retired U.S. Navy career man Charles Scanlon has been married for 43 years. He’s currently a substitute teacher and coaches Alameda High School’s junior varsity girl’s basketball team. After retiring as a high school librarian in 2002, Lynne (Klein) Therriault spends much of her time traveling from Antarctica to Bhutan and everywhere in between.
1964
Larry Sawyer and wife Barbara have recently returned from a wonderful trip to South Africa and are looking forward to their next adventure in Russia—two more things off of their bucket list. Kathy (Kingbury) Dobrzycki and Rita (Rolph) Mechericoff ’62 enjoy volunteering their time at The Children’s Museum at La Habra. They encourage classmates to drop a line to The Rock.
1966
Don Powell was hired as interim Santa Fe Springs city manager, a position he held for 19 years until his retirement in 1999.
Linda (Robinson) Hackathorn and her husband Richard celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. They have spent each anniversary in a different U.S. state—Missouri for their 50th.
1967
Class Agent: Ann (Hansen) Burge
Robert A. Baldwin spent 30 years with The Walt Disney Company in marketing, sales, and operations. He currently is working with a leisure industry consulting company. Audrey (Thedaker) Chamberlain has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the U.S. She studies the archeology of Chumash Indian pictographs and rock art in California. Jane (Israel) Honikman is an international leader in mental health related to childbearing. Her career has taken her around the world with her husband, Terry. Retired teacher Michael T. Ledbetter spends much of his time traveling and playing golf with long-time old friends from elementary school. After a 39-year career in education, Gary Skinner retired as dean of students and athletic director in 2004. Sharon L. (Moorhead) Snell ’67 keeps busy volunteering in Virgina City, Nev. In 2010, Mary M. (Sydnor) Stanton married Kenneth Stanton. She serves on the board of the Northwest Quilt and Textile Museum in La Conner, Wash. Barbara J. Tasker- Mueller graduated from Western Washington University with a master’s degrees in linguistic anthropology in 2015. Retired teacher Lorrie K. Thomas enjoys attending musical theater productions, traveling, genealogy research, and driving her restored ’66 Mustang. Mary A. (Lavedock) Throndson recently retired from teaching after 50 years. She and her husband are planning a trip across the U.S.
1968
JUST FOR FUN: This summer, Maribeth (Shepherd) Arehart and Michelle (Arehart) Fuller ’97 MA’00 traveled to the rural town of Whittier, North Carolina. Arehart completed the “Whittier Trifecta” after visiting Whittier, Alaska on a cruise with husband James Arehart ’69 and sons, Christopher Arehart '00 and Kenny Arehart.
1969
Psychologist Dr. Steve Davidson recently published a book, An Introduction to Human Operations Psychotherapy.
1970s
1970
JoAnne Shayne teaches college in New England. Her students keep her “young and informed about our evolving society.” She has a beautiful daughter and near-perfect son-in-law. She is living life to the fullest and plans to work until she can’t anymore.
1977
Khanh T. Tran was appointed to the CIT Board of Directors in July. He will also serve on the board of the bank subsidiary CIT Bank N.A. and on the Nominating and Governance Committee of both the CIT Board and subsidiary board. In 2016, he became the CEO of Aviation Capital Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pacific Life. Khanh previously served as an executive at Pacific Life Insurance Company for 25 years. Prior to this role, he served as president, chief investment of officer, chief financial of officer, and treasurer of Pacific Life. Khanh is based in Southern California.
1980s
1980
After 27 years of practicing law, Carrie Barnes Luppens retired last summer. She and her husband Dennis Luppens (her high school sweetheart) moved to the South of France and are trying to learn French.
Michael Vacchio recently joined ADLI Law Group, a Los Angeles-based litigation firm. Vacchio specializes in complex business and commercial litigation, as well as environmental, real estate, and construction matters.
1988
Jeff Reeves graduated with a master’s in human resources development in August of 2017 from the University of Texas.
1989
Mark Taylor is chief of staff for the Mayor of Long Beach. He is joined there by alumna Lauren Vargas ’08.
1990s
1991
Philip Reiff was on his rowboat in the San Francisco bay when a humpback whale splashed its tail out of the water only about 20 feet away from him. It was so close he could “smell its breath.”
A member of the Dolphin Club, Reiff was on the water to help protect swimmers participating in an organized event from other vessels.
In 2016, Andy Roach married Will, his partner of eight years. Roach is associate director of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University and an associate professor with joint appointments in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services and the Division of Health Management & Policy.
Ismael “Rich” Morales retired from Los Osos High School after 25 years of teaching. He recently wrote a book about childhood in La Habra, Calif. titled My Story, published on amazon.com.
1992
Jennifer Burrell was appointed as the new executive director of the Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children, affliate of the National Association of the Education of Young Children. Burrell has 30 years of experience in early education, family engagement, and community planning. She has a B.A. in child development and an M.A. in education in social sciences from Stanford University.
1993
Dennis McGonagle showed a selection of his paintings at the Whittier Museum this summer. The exhibit, A Phone Call to the Past, feature works from the artist’s illustrious 40-year painting career.
1994
Former Poet lacrosse team player Joshua Wilkinson is currently a teacher and lacrosse coach at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia. This past season, he led the team to their first-ever Virginia high school state championship.
John Lovato, assistant superintendent of educational services for the Rosemead School District, recently earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Cal Poly Pomona.
1996
Los Angeles movie producer Ryan R. Johnson co-produced the 2017 independent action-drama 9/11, starring Whoopi Goldberg. The lm depicts ve individuals trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Johnson has more than 20 lms to his credit as an independent lm producer.
Andrea Rodriguez was hired as Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s government relations director. Her role involves monitoring and coordinating government relations activities, including in uencing policy and regulations relating to agriculture and member interests, among other key duties. She previously served as Sonoma State University’s director of government and community relations.
Teacher Mikki (Nerio) Sethman ’96 M.A.’99 brought her Durfee Elementary (Pico Rivera, Calif.) first grade class to campus last spring.
1998
Mike Garabedian was in Yellowstone, Scotland, Holland, Croatia, and Bosnia this summer. Pictured in Edinburgh sampling the local fare, including haggis, black pudding, and lamb kidneys.
1999
Adam Pava was a panelist at this year’s Austin Film Festival and Screenwriters Conference.
2000s
2001
After 15 years in the wine industry Emily Klein recently joined the team at the Sonoma Land Trust—an organization aimed at conserving scenic, agricultural, and open land—as their business program manager. A mother of two, she wants to “help preserve our natural landscape so they may enjoy it for years to come.”
2007
Sarah Furman has been working in hospitality for 10 years. She is currently an area director for people & culture with Kimpton Hotels. Furman recently signed up to mentor Whittier students in collaboration with the Weingart Center for Career and Professional Development.
2008
Malyssa (Robson) Torres married Uriel Timoteo Torres August 6, 2016. Torres with her bridesmaids, including her WC besties, Athenians Roni Carter, Rebekah Antoine ’04, Tess Paredes ’07, and Clarissa Schomer ’09, and Thalian Amy (McDaniel) Frith ’07.
2009
Laura (Nauman) Ruiz recently married Javier Ruiz. She is the daughter of Teena (Laufer) Naumann ’81 and Jeff Naumann ’83.
2010s
2011
Courtney Anne Jackson, Andrea Smith ’11, and Londer Baker ’11 traveled to Costa Rica this summer for a Poet reunion.
Former Poet quarterback Matthew Castañeda was recently tapped to lead the football program at Rosemead High School. Castañeda is also the director of admissions and marketing for domestic & international student recruitment at South Hills Academy in West Covina, Calif.
2015
Frida Soria and Spencer Crews are happy to announce their engagement.
Benay Weintraub was accepted to Smith College in Massachusetts as a graduate teaching fellow. She will be an assistant coach for the Smith Pioneer tennis team while earning her Master’s degree in exercise science and sports studies.